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Inspire & Connect.

Founded in 1998, the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association is the oldest Interactive Marketing Association in the U.S., and currently serves and inspires more than 1,400 members from agency, corporate and freelance environments in content development, design, experience design, marketing, media, product development, promotions, publishing and usability.

We kicked off the member profile series on the MIMA blog last month with Preston Kelley’s Mark Jenson. Today, we’re continuing with Whitney Johnson, who is not only a member of MIMA but also an active volunteer on the marketing committee.

About a year ago, we officially shut down the MIMA blog. What had once been a good resource and read for interactive marketers from across Minnesota, had started to die on the vine. With a decent amount of change at the board and committee levels last year, we just couldn’t keep it going. We had to focus on other, more pressing priorities. So, we had to let it go.

But today, I’m happy to report that we’re officially rebooting the MIMA blog!

Session speaker STEVE PORTIGAL authored Interviewing Users, and thanks to his publisher, Rosenfeld Media, has extended a 20% discount code to Summit attendees (use “MIMA” at check out from the link to his book).

On Tuesday, October 15, we’re going to close out the 12th annual MIMA Summit with remarks from noted music, tech and business pundit Bob Lefsetz on our theme, the State of Change. Bob’s made a 25+ year career talking truth to power and illuminating the causes of change. Here’s a list of ten Lefsetz posts — in no specific order — we think demonstrate his unique style of writing and powerful vision. Consider this your introduction to the wisdom of Lefsetz:

It’s time to evolve, and I’m thrilled. In my six years with the MIMA Board, we’ve grown the association from almost 800 members to over 1,300. We’ve produced almost 100 events and welcomed over 300 speakers to help elevate talent here in Minnesota.

Minnesota is a highly innovative state in many regards. We often lead the nation on issues and ideas related to the arts, education, medicine, retail, design, technology, marketing and non-profits. Minnesota created the very first Advertising Federation, the first Better Business Bureau and the first Interactive Marketing Association (in 1998). We don’t need to become leaders in bad tax policy.

As “the premier marketing and creative staffing agency in Minnesota,” it comes with a great deal of authority to have one of our lovely sponsors, Celarity, espouse on the top marketing jobs of 2012. Check back later this month for a look at how 2013 is shaping up.

2012 is proving to be a heck of a year for the creative industry. Hiring managers across the country are digging deep for in-demand candidates. The marketing and creative world is unique, with ever-evolving trends, new ideas and technology.

This is a recap of The 2012 MIMA Summit Presentation Aunt Jemima ”Live from the Line: How Social Video Brought an Underdog,” by Marcy Massura of Weber Shandwick and Mitchell Reichgut.

Blog post by Lindsey Frey

Waffling the Competition

Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast was being outflanked and outspent by much larger rivals. Lacking the budget to compete in traditional media, the brand created an innovative social platform that straddled the line between paid and earned media. The videos featured real employees, and they were shot on location at the Aunt Jemima plant in Tennessee.